He said: "And he [Cameron] said I spent 30 years in the Navy. I was actually in for six years, as a marine engineer serving on HMS Intrepid and HMS Berwick."

He said that he did not think any of the main parties have the right answers on immigration.

He told the paper: "Britain needs immigrants. It's a rich and diverse country with a heritage to be proud of."

But he added: "What I find unacceptable is that the politicians – Labour, Tory, I can't say Lib Dem because they haven't been in power – seem to care more about everybody else and forget the British people."

Another "real life example" used by Mr Cameron in Thursday's debate has been undermined.